Wilhelmsen: Maritime Industry Exiting Its Conservative Image

The maritime industry cannot afford to be conservative in an environment that is constantly changing, according to the Wilhelmsen CEO.

During this week’s Industry Conference hosted by Norway’s biggest bank DNB, Thomas Wilhelmsen said that “if you are conservative in the maritime industry, you will not make it.”

“With the amount of data available now, combined with technology providing new opportunities, our options and possibilities to create value for our customers are different today than just one year ago,” Wilhelmsen informed.

He proclaimed that ideas that were considered impossible three or four years ago, are now within reach due to ongoing development in technology, its availability and its price. The company said that it is working on a number of projects, including drone deliveries to ships, 3D printing in port and smart ropes with sensors now running a live pilot sailing in the Nordics.

“It is more fun to be in in the forefront of developing the maritime industry, than to be just someone who comes in later and adopts what everyone else are doing,” he added.

“We create value for our customers by utilizing what is out there to make our customers more efficient and profitable, shaping the maritime industry as we make leaps forward.”